We hate to see anything happen to our Mazda 3s but it’s all in good fun when it’s someone else who is doing some car mangling. The Euro NCAP tests, long known as the more intensive car crash test worldwide, have pushed a 2010 Mazda 3 around and the results are good. The 2010 Mazda 3 managed to score the highest possible, 5-stars, after running through a barrage of testing based on four points of safety: Adult Occupant Protection, Child Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist.

Check out all the Mazda 3 carnage by visiting the Euro NCAP website or by watching the video below:

See what other Mazda 3 drivers are saying about this test by visiting our forums.

Have you often fantasized about what it would be like to make your mark on aftermarket automotive history? Here’s your chance: Corksport is looking for anyone with a 2010 Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed3 to give them feedback on their products and to be apart of a focus group on December 14th, 2009.

There are two requirements:

1. You must have a 2010 Mazda 3 or Mazdaspeed 3.
2. You must live around the Portland, OR metro area (or being willing to drive to Portland I suppose).

There are only a few spots left to get up close and personal with your favorite aftermarket parts supplier so jump on this opportunity while it’s still here! If interested you can reach Jason Griffith at griffith -at- corksport.com (remove the spaces and substitute -at- for @) or call Jason directly at 360-260-2675. You can also learn more about this opportunity by visiting our forum thread on the subject.

Quick! What does Mazda’s top selling model look like if you blacked out the lights, added a gray graphic over a Crystal White Pearl Mica shell and slapped on a Tri-Point Engineering turbo kit? If you guessed a custom 250+ hp 2010 Mazda3 sedan then you were right (and possibly psychic?) Debuting at the 2009 SEMA Show alongside its slightly tuned 2010 Mazdaspeed3 sibling, Mazda’s newest bun out of the oven features the stunning 19×8 wheels and tires from the much lusted for Mazda RX-8 R3 and brakes/calipers pulled straight off the Mazdaspeed3 and Mazda5 assembly lines (front and rear, respectively).

The SEMA Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 both adorn a more stealthy look with bright black grille inserts, side mirrors, fog lamp bezels, roof panel, and front headlight housing. Check out all of the changes in our photo gallery below and by reading the following press release courtesy of Mazda USA:

LAS VEGAS – With the launch of the all-new 2010 MAZDA3 and MAZDASPEED3, a small team of designers and engineers at Mazda R&D in Irvine, Calif., decided to celebrate with a pair of special projects, debuting for the first time at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.

Figuring out how to commemorate the completion of the MAZDA3 was easy. Mazda’s line of exciting, fun-to-drive cars are born from the passion of the people who design them, so starting with a MAZDASPEED3 and a 2.5-liter MAZDA3s the team took its knowledge of the Mazda parts bin and its close relationships with MAZDASPEED Motorsports suppliers, looked in the mirror, and decided to build a pair of tuner cars that show its own vision of the MAZDA3.

Both cars are painted to mimic the new MAZDA3 World Challenge race car, but in a more subdued Crystal White Pearl base coat with soft gray tone graphics. The scheme is a modern twist on the famous Renown graphics used on the Mazda 787B that won Le Mans in 1991.

Exterior details, including grille inserts, side mirrors, fog lamp bezels, the roof panel, and the formerly chrome interior of the front lamps are all given a bright black paint treatment. Combined with tinted windows, and dark red taillight lenses, the dark details tighten the car visually, emphasizing the MAZDA3’s taught, muscular shape much like a tailored black suit on an athlete.

Both cars roll on 19×8-inch wheels with 225/40-19 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires straight off the RX-8 R3. The wheels are forged aluminum, giving them strength with exceptional light weight.

The sedan was sent to Tri-Point Engineering for a boost in power. Between World Challenge races, Tri-Point installed their turbo kit, utilizing a rugged cast iron turbo manifold feeding a high-efficiency Garrett GT2871R ball bearing turbo. At a mild 10 psi of boost, the 2.5-liter MZR engine is making well over 250 horsepower at the wheels (final tuning is still being finished).

To handle this extra power, the front brakes were replaced with rotors and calipers from a MAZDASPEED3, while the rear rotors and calipers were sourced from a MAZDA5. Double-adjustable coil-overs from KW Suspension, paired with a Tri-Point adjustable rear stabilizer bar bring the handling back into harmony with the engine’s higher output.

The MAZDASPEED3, already capable of 155 mph, was already nearly fast enough. An AEM cold-air intake bumps output about 20 horsepower, but otherwise, the powertrain remains untouched. Suspension is again KW coil-overs, but this time with modified top mounts on the front struts to increase camber and provide additional cornering grip. Four-piston Stoptech calipers and floating two-piece rotors nearly identical to those on the World Challenge car are used, since the car’s original brakes were transplanted to the 4-Door.

Celebrating its 40^th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers.  Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

2009 SEMA Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 Photo Gallery

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The 2010 Mazda 3 seems to be racking up awards like crazy lately with a five star rating by the NHTSA for crash safety and now garnering top safety pick by the IIHS. The second gen Mazda 3 received a ‘Good’ rating which is the highest mark available from the IIHS and also received the best marks possible in the structure/safety cage, head/neck, chest, restraints/dummy kinetics and leg/left foot categories of crash safety. Only the leg/right foot pulled a slightly lower award of ‘Acceptable’ due to potential force on the right tibia leading to possible injury.

In addition to a great safety rating for frontal impact the 2010 Mazda 3 also received a rating of ‘Good’ for side impact, the highest possible, and ‘Good’ for rear impact protection. This is a significant change from the first gen Mazda 3 which scored a ‘Marginal’ rating for rear impact protection and ‘Poor’, the lowest possible, for side impact.  The newly improved crash safety ratings prove the 2010 Mazda 3 is a worthy successor to the popular first gen mazda 3 and the new changes made by Mazda are more than skin deep.

2010 Mazda 3 Frontal Crash Safety Test

2010 Mazda 3 Side Impact Crash Safety Test

Although we’ve known that the 2010 Mazda 3 MPS (Euro-spec) would be getting lots of cool stuff we were unaware of just how much they would have over the U.S.-spec Mazdaspeed3. U.S. based fans will be gritting their teeth once they find out Euro-spec MPS’ get bi-xenon headlights (standard or optional) and have four colors to choose from including Crystal White Pearl Mica.

Check out all 91 new photos of the 2010 Mazda3 MPS below and be sure to download the full press kit with all the gory details:

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Have you ever looked at your shiny new 2010 Mazda 3 and thought “Hmm… I wonder what I can do with it now…”? We have a new 2010+ Mazda 3 forum loaded with how-to guides on things ranging from how to create your own rear window center LED brake light to upgrading your horn to a rear sway bar install. Check them all out by visiting our 2010+ Mazda 3 how to guide forum!

Bertrand Godin over at Auto123 had a chance to toss around a new 2010 Mazdaspeed3 and among his first impressions he loved Mazda’s revisions like the controversial new styling but didn’t like the noisy engine and lack of AWD. There are some cool new pics of the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 sliding sideways in water so head over to Auto123 and check out the full review!

The first 2010 Mazdaspeed3 delivered in the state of California and our first member to pick up his new speed3, DrumminJ219 just might be the luckiest Mazdaspeed owner on earth. Drummin posted up some killer pics of the blazing red Mazdaspeed3 which you can see by checking out our 2010 Mazdaspeed3 forum!

Congrats on the new ride DrumminJ219!

Now that new 2010 Mazda 3 owners have settled into their rides, a couple quirks have been discovered. Long a thorn in the side of first generation Mazda 3 drivers, the wimpy sounding horn that comes with the Mazda 3 from the factory just doesn’t have enough oomph to get noticed in traffic. Forum user glennk decided to change that and wrote a very helpful, easy to use how-to guide on our forums detailing how to upgrade your stock horn.

Check out glennk’s guide here!

Earlier this week we received pricing speculation in the forums regarding the 2010 Mazdaspeed3. One of our observant subscribers followed up to give us the full scoop on the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3’s correct pricing and estimated delivery time. The 2010 Mazdaspeed 3’s are currently on the water and heading to U.S. shores, as evidenced by the Tacoma Port video, and should be arriving at U.S. dealerships in August 2009!

Check out what our dealer friend had to say:

The 2010 Mazdaspeed3 will have a MSRP of $23,945 for the base model and $25,840 for the speed3 with the tech package.

2010 MAZDASPEED3

Product Information Bulletin

July 6, 2009

Mazda is pleased to announce the all new, all that 2010 MAZDASPEED3 – a compact

performance sports hatch that continues the strengths of its 263hp DISI Turbo’d predecessor: off-the-charts fun-to-drive handling and performance; class leading interior and exterior design; superb quality and craftsmanship; and innovative standard and optional equipment. Key changes for 2010 include: all new exterior and interior styling; three new exterior colors; new wheel design; an exclusive new front fascia; and a whole host of new options and standard features not typically found in the hot hatch segment.

The 2010MY MAZDASPEED3 is available in Sport trim with 6-speed MT at only $455 more than the 2009MY and includes among the standard equipment Bluetooth phone/audio; Multi Information Display (MID) / trip computer; dual zone automatic climate control; high bolster sport seats; turbo boost gauge; MAZDASPEED gauges, pedals, scuff plates, and floor mats; side mirror turn signal lamps; dual exhaust with bright tips; 18 inch wheels and

225/40R18 tires; Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control (TCS).

Finally, a new MAZDASPEED Technology Package offers the ‘SPEED3 customer compact navigation with full color MID, Bose Centerpoint 10-speaker surround sound audio system with 6-disc CD changer, advanced keyless entry, push button start, Sirius satellite radio with 6 months of service, and a perimeter alarm.